Synopsis
Set in a grim South Yorkshire mining town, 'Kes' follows 15-year-old Billy Casper, a troubled, overlooked boy who discovers an unexpected sense of belonging when he trains a young kestrel falcon. Director Ken Loach crafts a deeply humanist portrait of working-class life, exploring themes of poverty, institutional failure, and the crushing of youthful spirit. The film remains one of British cinema's most powerful and emotionally resonant works.
Did You Know?
- Based on Barry Hines' 1968 novel 'A Kestrel for a Knave.'
- Director Ken Loach used mostly non-professional local actors.
- The kestrel was trained by David Bradley himself.
- Filmed entirely on location in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
- Barry Hines based Billy Casper partly on his own brother.
Iconic Quotes
- 'He's not bothered about anything, are you Kes? He's just free.'
- 'We're not interested in the good ones, we want to know about you.'
- 'Nobody makes me do owt I don't want to do.'
- 'I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail, yes I would.'
- 'I'm not frightened of you, even if you are my teacher.'
